Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Magnesium Sulphate Protects Babies Against Cerebral Palsy, Review Shows

image of baby
ScienceDaily (Jan. 21, 2009) — Giving pregnant mothers magnesium sulphate when they are at risk of very preterm birth can help protect their babies from cerebral palsy, according to an international review of research involving the University of Adelaide.


The findings of this review - published January 21 on the international research website The Cochrane Library - could help decrease the incidence of this disabling condition, which affects one in 500 newborn babies overall and one in 10 very premature babies (less than 28 weeks gestation). Magnesium sulphate therapy involves giving doses of magnesium sulphate to pregnant women via injection.


The potential for magnesium sulphate to decrease the risk of cerebral palsy in babies was first proposed in the early 1990s. The new Cochrane review, which supports this suggestion, was carried out by leading researchers from Australia (University of Melbourne and University of Adelaide), France (University Hospital, Rouen) and the United States (University of Alabama).


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